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Colton Ford
American singer and actor (1962–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Glenn Soukesian (October 12, 1962 – May 19, 2025), known professionally as Colton Ford, was an American singer and pornographic film actor. Ford began his adult film career at age 40, making twelve pornographic videos in 10 months before leaving the industry in 2002 to refocus on his musical pursuits. Ford garnered attention for his distinctly muscular image and was recognized for his work, earning the Grabby Award for Best Group Sex Scene in Conquered (2002) and the GayVN Award for Gay Performer of the Year in 2003.
As a recording artist, Ford released five studio albums since 2008 that blend his roots in R&B and soul with dance music elements. Among his singles, his collaboration with Pepper MaShay on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (2004) and "Let Me Live Again" (2011) both charted on Billboard's Dance Club Songs. Ford embraced his provocative image, often incorporated homoerotic elements in his music videos. In 2011, he was named in AfterElton.com's "Top 50 Gay Male Musicians".
Beyond the adult film industry, Ford became known for the 2005 documentary Naked Fame, which chronicled his transition into mainstream entertainment, and his role as Sheriff Trout of the gay-themed TV series The Lair (2007–2009). He made cameo appearances in several LGBT-related feature films throughout the 2000s, before making his off-Broadway debut in 2011 with Little House on the Ferry. Ford died in 2025 at the age of 62 due to a hiking accident.
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Early life
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Ford was born Glenn Soukesian[1][2] in Pasadena, California.[3][4] He was of Armenian descent through his father's side, and also had Italian, Swedish, French, and English ancestry.[5][3] Ford grew up in a conservative community in Mission Viejo.[6][5][3] His father divorced his mother and left when Ford was three, only reconnecting with him at age sixteen, a separation he later cited as the root of his abandonment issues.[5][7][8] His mother remarried when he was around four, and worked as a secretary.[5][8] During these formative years, he developed a close bond with his mother and grandparents.[5][7]
As a child, Ford learned violin and guitar, and later honed his performance skills in musical theater while in school, notably playing Emile de Becque in South Pacific, and Reverend Hale in The Crucible.[9][3][10] Upon graduating high school, Ford's family wanted him to be an engineer and dissuaded him from pursuing music professionally, leading him to briefly attend California State University, Fullerton for a year.[4][6][8] Nevertheless, he soon landed a gig in a dinner theater nightclub, where he performed show tunes, R&B, and blue-eyed soul with a group of singers.[9][11] This was followed by performing in a jazz quartet called "High Society",[12][13] who frequently opened for Wayland and Madame, and comedian David Brenner in Las Vegas.[3][9] He also did commercial jingle work, and performed on cruise ships.[3] "Having covered the gamut of different types of performing, singing is something I've always enjoyed," Ford remarked.[3]
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Career
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Pornography and modeling
During the early 2000s, Ford managed a volunteer program for the Wells Fargo bank,[5][10] and had two years of experience with nude modeling for several coffee table books.[9][14] At the age of 39, he ventured into the adult film industry while dating pornographic film actor Blake Harper.[5][6] When Harper's scene partner could not travel from New York City to Palm Springs due to the effects of September 11 attacks, he asked Ford if he would step in.[9][6] Feeling unfulfilled with his corporate job and wanting to draw attention to his music, Ford accepted.[10][6] Their scenes were taped and released by All Worlds Video in 2001, entitled PornStruck 2.[15][6] Ford's pseudonym "Colton" was inspired by the California city he often drove through on his way to Palm Springs.[10][16]: 24:08 The surname "Ford" was adopted on the advice of Chi Chi Larue, who suggested a name as strong as a car brand.[10][16]: 24:08 Beyond commercial video pornography, Ford and Harper spent three months working as webcam models, allowing monthly-paid voyeurs access and interaction via live chat rooms.[17][18]
Ford signed exclusively with All Worlds in December 2001,[19] and made twelve pornographic videos within a 10-month period before his retirement the following year.[6][20] These videos were produced and distributed by various studios in over three years, until 2003,[7] including All Worlds Video, Mustang (a subsidiary of Falcon), MRS Videos, and Men of Odyssey.[21][20] His adult film career garnered several accolades. In 2002, Ford shared the GayVN Award for Gay Performer of the Year with actor Michael Brandon.[22] His group scene in Conquered (2001), a video directed by LaRue,[23] received a GayVN Award nomination and won a Grabby Award.[22][24] It was also recognized by the Hard Choice Award as one of the year's best sex scenes.[25] Ford received a Grabby nomination for Best Performer in 2002,[26] and two more GayVN Awards nominations for his collaboration in Aftershock: Part 2 (2002) and Prowl 3 (2003).[27][28]
In July 2002, Ford decided to leave the industry to refocus on his musical ambitions.[14][8] He considered his foray into the adult film industry a fulfilled fantasy,[7][14] asserting that it was nothing to be ashamed of and offered him both a larger audience and unique advantages.[6][1] "I felt that I had gotten everything out of the experience that I needed and that it was time to move on and shift gears," he recalled.[14] He retained the pseudonym Colton Ford for his music releases, signaling his openness regarding his past pornography career.[29][30] Ford remained active in modeling years after his retirement; for instance, he was included in Joe Oppedisano's explicit photobook Uncensored (2008).[31] Oppedisano picked Ford as one of the biggest inspirations for the book.[31] In December 2010, Ford was featured on the cover of Attitude magazine's Sex Issue, one of eleven prominent male porn stars to pose for it.[30]
In 2021, at 58 years of age, Ford launched an OnlyFans page,[32][5] which served as an outlet for exclusive erotic content, such as daily vlogs and explicit edits of his music videos.[32][33] In November 2023, he participated in an OnlyFans video with adult film star Dallas Steele, titled Dallas Steele and Colton Ford: Two Porn Legends Together.[21][34] The video was also made available on the RawFuckClub website, marking Ford's first credited pornographic appearance in two decades.[34] In 2024, he closed his OnlyFans page, finding its demanding content creation too much for his age and priorities.[5]
Music
1986–2005: Career beginning and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"
In 1986, Ford moved to Los Angeles, where he joined Jon St. James' production company, performing with notable artists like Keith Sweat and Chaka Khan.[9][35] Under the pseudonym Glenn Street, he released the single "Hardline" through On the Spot Records in 1988.[6][36] Produced by James, the track was described as a "gritty technopop number" by Bill Coleman of Billboard.[36] By 1990, he signed with Mighty Productions, leading to a collaboration with American DJ Frankie Knuckles.[37][35] Although Ford was slated to be featured on Knuckles' 1995 album, Welcome to the Real World, the plans were scrapped due to issues at Virgin Records and Adeva ultimately replaced his role.[1][9][12] Further music deals, including one with Virgin in 1999 and another with Third Stone Records, also fell through.[38][9][12] At 39 years old, believing he was no longer "label material", Ford ventured into adult films with Harper in 2001 to garner more attention for his music.[9][39] He maintained his creative output, continuing to write and record material while unsigned.[6][40]
Ford stepped away from adult filmmaking in 2003 to release "Everything", a dance-oriented single.[40][38] Following this, Ford collaborated with singer-songwriter Pepper MaShay on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" (2004), a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1970 single.[29][41] Produced by Mac Quayle, Ralphi Rosario, and Solar City, this house-influenced track was dubbed "a formula for success" by Keith Caulfield of Billboard.[42] The single reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in April 2004[43][44] and number 25 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart the following month.[45] Ford and MaShay performed the track throughout the summer of 2004.[46][35] "It's kind of a no brainer, a classic song that everyone loves and it's a happy up song", Ford said.[46] The making of "Everything" and Ford's career shift from adult film back to music were chronicled in Christopher Long's 2005 film, Naked Fame.[40][35] Both "Everything" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" were subsequently included on the soundtrack album released by Centaur Music.[47]
2007–2025: Debut album and later work
Ford signed with Outsider Music[12] and released his debut album, Tug of War (2008), with R&B, house and funk influences.[1][48] Ford began working on the album in 2006,[30] with the tracks were written and composed by Ford and record producer Quentin Harris.[49] Billboard called the album "a steel-solid second act", while Metro Weekly lauded Harris' sensual production as its central strength.[50][49] Three singles were released from the album with their respective music videos: "Tug of War",[51][52] "That's Me" (featuring Cazwell),[50][53] and "The Way You Love Me".[54][55] The latter single was distributed by Lucas Entertainment in 2007.[56] Also in 2008, Ford was featured in Cyndi Lauper's music video for "Into the Nightlife"[57] and performed on her True Colors Tour.[58] His 2009 second studio album, Under the Covers, featured the dance covers from a variety of genres.[1][59] The singer aimed to capture both the integrity of the original songs and his spirit on the album.[60] His covers of Britney Spears' "Trouble" (2008)[61] and R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" (1991)[62][63] were released as singles in 2009. He was a featured singer on Chris Reece's The Divine Circle and Mischa Daniels's Where You Wanna Go, both in 2010.[37]
Released in June 2013, Ford's third album, The Way I Am, incorporated a blend of dance, electronica, and R&B.[64][65][11] He collaborated with producers such as Chris Willis and NERVO on the album, whose songs address themes of sex, romantic relationships, and self-love.[64][66] The album's uptempo lead single, "Let Me Live Again", reached number 41 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[67][43] Ford subsequently released his EP Next Chapter in 2015.[21] In 2016, Ford relocated from New York City to Los Angeles and departed from his management company.[2] That same year, he released Glenn Soukesian, an R&B and soul album he considered a personal project.[2] Ford temporarily stepped away from his music career following his mother's death and a challenging breakup.[68] He returned in 2020 with the four-song EP Unity, which he wrote during the COVID-19 pandemic, centering its themes on unification, internal strength, and the right to freedom.[68][33][7] The project was created by Ford and two creative partners, Ron Schrader and Spin Sista, known collectively as Woop Woop Productions.[68] To promote "Stay", one of the tracks from the EP, Ford created an OnlyFans page and released an uncensored edit of its music video on the platform.[32] His fifth and final album, Permission (2023), contains R&B and pop songs that delve into themes of lustful encounters, the joys and sorrows of love, and infidelity.[37][39]
Film, television, and theater
During his pornography career, Ford made cameo appearances in two LGBT-related feature films: he was credited as Glenn Sakazian in The Next Best Thing (2000), directed by John Schlesinger;[21][69] and featured in Dirk Shafer's Circuit (2001).[21][70] When Ford took a break from the adult film industry, he was introduced to Christopher Long, who found Ford's story compelling and believed it worthy of a film.[40] Ford agreed to have his nine-month journey from the adult film industry to writing and recording his single "Everything" documented.[40][29] The result was the documentary film Naked Fame, produced by Long's Hard Sell Productions.[40][71] The film was screened at various festivals in 2004, followed by a limited theatrical run in 2005.[72][17] AVN and Gay City News praised its realistic portrayal of the cutthroat entertainment industry,[17][71] while Cameron Scheetz of Queerty wrote that it well-encapsulated Ford's talent and drive for success.[73] Kurt B. Reighley of The Advocate noted that the chemistry between Ford and Harper compensated for the film's uneven pacing and cinematography.[74] Ford made an uncredited cameo appearance and contributed "Everything" to the soundtrack of Hellbent,[21][40][75] a 2004 slasher film featuring an all-gay male character cast.[76]
When Regent Releasing acquired Naked Fame for distribution, Ford became associated with Here TV and received a script for a cameo role on Dante's Cove, an LGBTQ-oriented soap opera from the network.[38] He was subsequently contacted by the casting director for The Lair and offered a part on that show instead.[38] He accepted, playing the role of Trout, a closeted sheriff attempting to solve a mystery in a small island community.[77][78] The supernatural thriller series debuted in June 2007 on Here TV.[78][77] Fred Olen Ray, the show's creator, intended the role of Trout to be nonsexual and to serve as the voice of reason for the show, which Ford found suited him well for demonstrating his acting abilities.[78][79][3] Filming for the series took place in Los Angeles.[3] His role was expanded in the second season, and Ford reprised the role for a third season in 2009.[79][80] Lawrence Ferber of The Advocate dubbed the role as Ford's "mainstream acting debut", citing him as one of the reasons to watch the show.[81] Ford went on to be a featured panelist on Here TV's resident chat show Threesome.[64][82] Ford appeared in a cameo role as Butch Hunk, an escort hired for a threesome, in Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! (2008).[83] He described the role as "silly [and] over-the-top".[3] In 2019, Ford was featured in The (Art) Of Be(i)ng, an art-house film by JB Ghuman Jr. that was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and OutFest Philadelphia.[84]
Ford made his off-Broadway debut in 2011 in the musical theatre Little House on the Ferry, a gay love story set in the summer resort of Fire Island Pines, New York.[85][86] He played Max, a Pied Piper-like figure who leads young gay men to an underwear party.[10][87] Described the role as "sexy and surprisingly smart", Ford dedicated the performance to his mother.[10][87] The play included eleven original songs, which were released as an album by the original cast.[88] "After Hours", a track Ford found catchy and well-suited for a musical theater setting, was released as a single featuring his vocals.[10][89] The show ran in New York from November 3 until November 20, 2011.[85] In May and June 2014, Ford starred as a gay partner in the Los Angeles production of Harrison David Rivers' And All The Dead, Lie Down.[37][90] In May 2012, Ford participated in the New York production of Match Game Live, a staged version of the popular TV game show, where contestants engage in a game of innuendo and wordplay with celebrities.[91]
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Artistry
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Ford cited R&B recording artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight as his primary musical influences.[3][60] He also praised Olivia Newton-John for her vocals, calling her "a complete package".[60] He identified R&B and soul as his musical roots,[60][2][65] influences distinctly audible in songs from Tug of War[49][65] and Glenn Soukesian.[2] However, he was well-known for his dance music,[29][60][92] a genre he favored for its welcoming space for artists outside major label norms and its resonance with the gay community.[9][29] Dance elements are prominently featured on Under the Covers,[65][60] and The Way I Am.[64][66] Rule noted that despite his initial dance-pop singles, Ford appeared to prefer recognition as a blue-eyed soul or R&B-flavored pop singer.[49]
Although Ford naturally spoke in a baritone, his singing voice spanned a tenor range.[3][93] He developed this fuller, wider vocal sound from a natural high voice in his youth by learning to relax his throat through vocal coaching.[3] Music critics frequently praised his singing in their reviews.[49][12][42] Rich Lopez of Dallas Voice lauded his melisma on The Way I Am,[92] while Rule opined that despite occasional straining for higher notes, his vocal performance on Tug of War was "better than many contemporary pop stars".[49] J. Poet of Gay.com highlighted his supple vocals, noting the classic R&B feel, "seductive high end and shimmering melismas."[94] However, the overall reception to Ford's music was mixed; both Billboard's Chuck Taylor and Lopez felt his sex appeal overshadowed his decent musical efforts.[95][54] Daniel Villarreal of Queerty and the writers of Dallas Voice dismissed the generic and dated dance production on Under the Covers,[59][96] while Lopez and Raj Rudolph of EQ Music viewed The Way I Am as an improvement and effectively making a case for Ford's ascension in the dance genre.[66][92]
A self-proclaimed exhibitionist,[97][39] Ford was known to incorporate homoerotic elements in his music videos.[67][3][97][13] For instance, the black and white video for "Let Me Live Again" drew inspiration from Tom of Finland's artwork,[67] while in "Handle It", he appears as one of the go-go boys at a gay nightclub.[37][39] Suggestive content can also be found in the videos for "The Way You Love Me",[54] "That's Me",[53] "Losing My Religion",[59] "All My Love",[98] and "Stay".[8] The singer believed sexual imagery served as an impactful statement that leaves a lasting impression.[8] He dismissed the criticism towards his erotic videos, asserting a double standard for male and female sexuality representation and proclaiming his inherent sensual nature.[3][8][39][13]
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Public image
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Ford has been considered one of the most prolific gay pornographic stars of the early 2000s.[14][20][99][100] Publications such as Out and AVN referred to him as a legendary gay porn star.[21][20] He is known for his distinct "muscle daddy" image,[59][10][64][101] prompting Lopez to opine that "Ford is to gay porn muscle-daddies what Meryl Streep is to mainstream movie actresses".[60] Cybersocket stated that he "made an indelible imprint in the industry" with his beloved masculine image.[102] J. C. Adams, writing for AVN, praised his presence in Colton (2002), calling him a "walking wet dream".[103] Ford himself noted that his distinct look set him apart from many other performers at the time.[14][16]: 23:55 He also credited his success to Harper and LaRue, highlighting their popularity and how working with them made him feel safe and comfortable.[3][16]: 23:10
Ford was recognized as a multifaceted entertainer who successfully transitioned from adult entertainment into mainstream media.[104][100][11][105] Pink TV declared him one of the world's most famous American gay personalities,[106] and AfterElton.com listed him as one of their "Top 50 Gay Male Musicians".[107] He was included in OutQ's Top 100 artists list in 2005.[108] Weho Times and Gayety recognized him as an influential figure in LGBTQ+ entertainment.[109][105] Hotspots Magazine stated that he represented the LGBTQ community with a unique sense of diversity and acceptance for his generation.[110]
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Personal life and death
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Ford's parents accepted both his homosexuality and his pornography career.[5] His mother died from cancer in 2013 at the age of 69.[68][5] A strong advocate for therapy, he had been attending sessions since age 30, a practice he was exposed to as a child through his mother's lifelong engagement with therapy.[5] He viewed therapy as a way to connect with his inner self, and examine past experiences.[5][8] In addition to his entertainment career, Ford had been a personal trainer since 2002.[5][111][112] He worked out three or four days a week, with each session lasting two hours.[3][9][111] Up until his death in 2025, he trained clients at a local gym in Palm Springs.[5][112] Ford supported Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election, expressing that he could "feel his empathy, commitment, and concern".[68] He also criticized the LGBTQ conservatism movement,[68][5] and disparaged Republican nominee Donald Trump as "the quintessential example of narcissistic personality disorder".[68]
Ford started dating Blake Harper in 2001,[6] a pairing Brady Jansen of AVN hailed as "arguably the biggest gay porn power couple ever."[20] Their relationship, as Adams observed, was instrumental in elevating both men to A-list status within the industry.[113] Ford stated that despite public perceptions of pornographic actors, he and Harper were "two down-to-earth, geniune guys who are just trying to figure life out".[74] He dedicated "Love Has Found A Way", a ballad from his debut album, to Harper.[18] However, they split in April 2007 when Ford moved to New York to pursue his entertainment career,[114] while Harper returned to Canada to continue his nursing profession.[16][106] In August 2024, Ford dated his Aftershock: Part 2 co-star, Matthew Rush.[115]
On May 18, 2025, Ford was last seen before embarking on a hike on the Goat Trails in Palm Springs, California.[116] The following day, May 19, Palm Springs police received a report of a missing hiker.[116] Later that evening, Ford, aged 62, was found deceased on the hiking trail, having died in a hiking accident.[116][21][117] The coroner's office ruled out foul play, but no information on the possible cause of death was made available.[116] Although the coroner's office did not release the man's identity, friends and colleagues confirmed Ford's identity and paid tribute to him to multiple outlets and on social media,[116][21] including LaRue, Steele, and Matthew Rettenmund.[118]
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Filmography
Pornographic
Non-pornographic
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Discography
Albums
Extended plays
Singles
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Theatre
Awards
See also
Notes
- Shared with Nino Bacci, Blake Harper, Billy Herrington, and Jay Ross.[24][22]
- Tied with Michael Brandon.[154]
References
External links
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